Virtual Personal Interface for Control and Travel Between Virtual Worlds

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems described herein are directed to a virtual personal interface (herein “personal interface”) for controlling an artificial reality (XR) environment, such as by providing user interfaces for interactions with a current XR application, providing detail views for selected items, navigating between multiple virtual worlds without having to transition in and out of a home lobby for those worlds, executing aspects of a second XR application while within a world controlled by a first XR application, and providing 3D content that is separate from the current world. While in at least one of those worlds, the personal interface can itself present content in a runtime separate from the current virtual world, corresponding to an item, action, or application for that world. XR applications can be defined for use with the personal interface to create both a 3D world portion and 2D interface portions that are displayed via the personal interface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed to methods and systems forcontrolling and navigating between multiple virtual worlds in artificialreality without having to transition in and out of a home lobby.

BACKGROUND

Artificial reality systems offer a user a plethora of opportunities toexperience what it might be like to visit desired places, participate incertain events, interact with particular individuals, etc. Often, theseactivities occur within the context of a virtual world delivered by anartificial reality application designed to simulate real-lifeencounters. For instance, such a virtual world can depict scenes forlocations that can be controlled to immerse a user in the happeningswithin the world as if the user were actually there.

In some scenarios, a user may like to travel to a subsequent virtualworld as a result of being intrigued by activities or things experiencedin a current world. Otherwise, such a travel desire may be the result ofa user having concluded a virtual world event or merely becoming moreinterested in a diversity of artificial reality offerings.

In an artificial reality environment, some objects a user sees andinteracts with are “virtual objects,” i.e., computer generated objectrepresentations. Virtual objects can be presented, e.g., by ahead-mounted display, mobile device, projection system, etc. Often,users can interact with virtual objects using controllers and/or handgestures. In systems that include hand tracking, images of the user'shands can be interpreted to create 3D models of the user's hands or tootherwise estimate hand postures. In some systems, user hand gesturescan perform “interactions” with virtual objects that can includeselecting, moving, rotating, resizing, actuating controls, changingcolors or skins, defining interactions between real or virtual objects,setting virtual forces to act on virtual objects, or any other action onor change to an object that a user can imagine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of devices on whichsome implementations of the present technology can operate.

FIG. 2A is a wire diagram illustrating a virtual reality headset whichcan be used in some implementations of the present technology.

FIG. 2B is a wire diagram illustrating a mixed reality headset which canbe used in some implementations of the present technology.

FIG. 2C is a wire diagram illustrating controllers which, in someimplementations, a user can hold in one or both hands to interact withan artificial reality environment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of an environment inwhich some implementations of the present technology can operate.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating components which, in someimplementations, can be used in a system employing the disclosedtechnology.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating an exemplaryartificial reality (XR) application which, in some implementations, canbe used to separately generate and control personal interface and 3Dworld content.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a process used in someimplementations of the present technology for using a personal interfaceof an artificial reality (XR) navigation system to directly navigatebetween multiple virtual worlds.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a process used in someimplementations of the present technology for using the personalinterface to present content from a controller corresponding to aselected item for a virtual world.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a process used in someimplementations of the present technology for generating and displaying3D content via the personal interface.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a process used in someimplementations of the present technology for populating a dedicatedspace within a virtual world with content sourced by an applicationexternal to that virtual world.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary personal interface.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary personal interfacedepicting virtual world destinations which can be executable by a userupon selection of an XR application on the personal interface.

FIG. 12A is an exemplary diagram illustrating the personal interfaceproviding 3D content separate from a world currently traveled by a user.

FIG. 12B is an exemplary diagram illustrating the personal interfaceproviding a window into a virtual world other than a world currentlytraveled by a user.

FIG. 12C is an exemplary diagram illustrating the personal interfaceproviding a portal to view and interact with 3D content that is separatefrom a world currently traveled by a user.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram illustrating populating a dedicatedspace within a virtual world with content sourced by an applicationexternal to that virtual world.

The techniques introduced here may be better understood by referring tothe following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical orfunctionally similar elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present disclosure are directed to a virtual personalinterface (herein “personal interface”) for controlling an artificialreality (XR) environment, such as by providing user interfaces forinteractions with a current XR application, providing detail views forselected items, navigating between multiple virtual worlds withouthaving to transition in and out of a home lobby for those worlds,executing aspects of a second XR application while within a worldcontrolled by a first XR application, and providing 3D content that isseparate from the current world. The personal interface can be separatefrom a current virtual world, allowing it to appear consistently inmultiple virtual worlds and to display controls from either the XRapplication in control of the current virtual world or elements andcontrols for other VR worlds, such as controls that enable virtual worldselection and transport.

For instance, an XR system can define a platform for XR applications,where XR applications can each include a controller, a system forproviding output in the personal interface and a system for providing a3D world. For example, while a user is in a first virtual world, she canaccess the personal interface, and can navigate within the personalinterface to the personal interface output for the XR application incontrol of the current world or the personal interface output fromanother XR application. This personal interface output from such anotherapplication in some cases is referred to herein as a 2D interface, butin some cases can include 3D content. The 2D interface can allow theuser to teleport directly to one or more locations in a 3D worldcontrolled by that other application. When such a teleportation controlis activated, the 3D world building portion of the corresponding XRapplication can be activated to create that world into which the user istaken. That is, the personal interface can host a 2D interface from apersonal interface builder of an application, where that 2D interfacecan enable teleportation to a 3D world and/or control of 3D content fora corresponding virtual world. In some cases, the personal interfacebuilder and/or 3D world builder can cause the display of the 2Dinterface and/or 3D world through the orchestration of content eitherhosted by a server for a respective application and/or stored locally bythe personal interface.

When a user desires to travel from a current to a subsequent virtualworld, she can simply select a desired application on the personalinterface (i.e., via the 2D interface from the personal interfacebuilder of that application) and select a teleport control in order tobe transported to the corresponding virtual world. In such a case, acurrent virtual world can be displayed concurrently with the personalinterface, which can be providing the 2D interface from the selectedother application, and until such time that the 2D interface is used tochange the world via the corresponding 3D world builder of that otherapplication. In some implementations, the personal interface canpresent, as part of a 2D interface for an application, various specificdestinations within a corresponding virtual world to which a user can bedirectly transported. For example, such destinations can be designatedby one or more travel cards implemented as deeplinks to places, events,or people within the respective virtual world. This way, the personalinterface can facilitate traveling directly between virtual worlds inartificial reality. In response to selection of one of such links, the3D world building portion corresponding to the selected application canresponsively (i.e., be caused to) then construct a 3D worldcorresponding to the selected destination.

In some implementations, the personal interface can define variouscontrols that can be applicable across each of the virtual worldscorresponding to applications. For instance, the controls canorchestrate avatar movement and/or appearance, navigation to aparticular area within a virtual world, personal content available to beincluded in a virtual world, access to credit needed to transactpayments, etc. In these ways, the personal interface can provide a fullsuite of controls that can be similarly applied no matter the virtualworld in which a user is operating. Said alternatively, the personalinterface can, by providing these controls universally across virtualworlds, bridge these spaces to allow them to be experienced in anunfettered manner from the perspective of a user.

As can be understood from the above, the personal interface can serve asan output medium for content sourced from an application correspondingto a current virtual world. In some implementations, however, thepersonal interface can also provide content sourced from an externalapplication, i.e., content not specifically prescribed by or known tothe application in control of the current virtual world. In some cases,the personal interface can even provide 3D content that is not under thecontrol of the application controlling the current virtual world. Insome cases, the personal interface can provide controls for augmenting adedicated area of a virtual world with content from another application.For example, a virtual world can include a dedicated broadcast (e.g.,casting) space (e.g., 2D or 3D area), the personal interface cancoordinate providing a deeplink for that space to a third partyapplication, which can then cast its content into the dedicated space.As a result, a user can select a content provider (i.e., the third partyapplication) on the personal interface that can then cause content to berelayed to the dedicated broadcast space.

In some implementations, the personal interface can, for otheruser-selected items in a virtual world, display various correspondingcontent. For example and where a selectable item is selected by a userand deeplinked to a controller for that item (e.g., a same applicationas the application for the virtual world being traveled, anotherapplication, a system controller such as a people profile manager orsocial graph module, etc.), the personal interface can access thatdeeplink to obtain and display the corresponding content from thecontroller. This way, a user can explore the corresponding content to,for instance, learn additional information about the selected item.

In some implementations, the personal interface can generate 3D contentthat is exclusive of (i.e., not controlled by) an application for acurrent virtual world in which a user is traveling. To do so, the 2Dinterface in control of the personal interface can react to a 3D contenttrigger action of a user to cause the personal interface to access anddisplay 3D content for the action. Exemplary content trigger actions caninclude user proximity to or selection of a particular item in a virtualworld, a gaze or stare at a particular item in a virtual world or on thepersonal interface, selection of an item on the personal interface,navigating a website in a virtual world, presence in a virtual worldthat is detected by its controlling application (to provide contentdesignated by the application), selecting one or more personal contentitems that a user desires to include in a virtual world, etc. Inresponse to receiving the 3D content trigger action, the personalinterface can display corresponding 3D item content in a vicinity of thepersonal interface, the personal interface can become a window intoanother virtual world, or the personal interface can provide portal fora volume extending through the personal interface and enabling the userto see and interact with 3D content provided in the volume but may notbe under the control of the application corresponding to the currentvirtual world. In these ways, the personal interface can offer a user anopportunity to preview an item for the 3D content trigger action thatcan serve to initially inform the user about the item or enhance alreadyexisting knowledge, without that 3D content being provided through oraccessible by the application in control of the current virtual world.In some cases, the type of preview that the personal interface canprovide (vicinity, window, portal) can be a function of the item and itscontroller (e.g., a corresponding application). This way, the personalinterface can optimize the scope and degree to which informativeinformation for the item can be conveyed to a user.

Embodiments of the disclosed technology may include or be implemented inconjunction with an artificial reality system. Artificial reality orextra reality (XR) is a form of reality that has been adjusted in somemanner before presentation to a user, which may include, e.g., virtualreality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), hybridreality, or some combination and/or derivatives thereof. Artificialreality content may include completely generated content or generatedcontent combined with captured content (e.g., real-world photographs).The artificial reality content may include video, audio, hapticfeedback, or some combination thereof, any of which may be presented ina single channel or in multiple channels (such as stereo video thatproduces a three-dimensional effect to the viewer). Additionally, insome embodiments, artificial reality may be associated withapplications, products, accessories, services, or some combinationthereof, that are, e.g., used to create content in an artificial realityand/or used in (e.g., perform activities in) an artificial reality. Theartificial reality system that provides the artificial reality contentmay be implemented on various platforms, including a head-mounteddisplay (HMD) connected to a host computer system, a standalone HMD, amobile device or computing system, a “cave” environment or otherprojection system, or any other hardware platform capable of providingartificial reality content to one or more viewers.

“Virtual reality” or “VR,” as used herein, refers to an immersiveexperience where a user's visual input is controlled by a computingsystem. “Augmented reality” or “AR” refers to systems where a user viewsimages of the real world after they have passed through a computingsystem. For example, a tablet with a camera on the back can captureimages of the real world and then display the images on the screen onthe opposite side of the tablet from the camera. The tablet can processand adjust or “augment” the images as they pass through the system, suchas by adding virtual objects. “Mixed reality” or “MR” refers to systemswhere light entering a user's eye is partially generated by a computingsystem and partially composes light reflected off objects in the realworld. For example, a MR headset could be shaped as a pair of glasseswith a pass-through display, which allows light from the real world topass through a waveguide that simultaneously emits light from aprojector in the MR headset, allowing the MR headset to present virtualobjects intermixed with the real objects the user can see. “Artificialreality,” “extra reality,” or “XR,” as used herein, refers to any of VR,AR, MR, or any combination or hybrid thereof.

Existing manners of presenting, navigating, and controlling virtualworlds in artificial reality provide discrete avenues for determiningand reaching those worlds. For example, the worlds can be targeted foraccess and manipulation only through transfer through a home lobby. Thatis, the home lobby can be akin to a mental switch that redirects a userto a subsequent virtual world from a currently world being traveled onlyafter transitioning through the lobby. In these ways, the home lobbypresents an obstacle to being able to seamlessly navigate worlds foritems of interest in the current world and otherwise. That is, travelbetween virtual worlds in artificial reality has required a user totransition between those worlds via a home lobby where a current worldis closed and a new one is opened. In other words, seamless movementbetween worlds not involving this transitioning step has eludedpresently available architectures. As a result, the correspondingartificial reality experience can be unnecessarily frustrating,distracting, and time-consuming. By contrast, implementations of thepresent technology offer a user an ability to uninterruptedly transitionto between virtual worlds, whether or not associated with a particularitem of interest. That is, such uninterrupted transition can, forinstance, provide the user the ability to retain a mental associationfor prior and future virtual worlds. For instance, the applicabletransition can be enabled by a deeplink for the interested item that canallow a user to directly travel to a virtual world. Accordingly, suchinstances of direct travel can be programmatically formulated to enhancetravel between virtual worlds so as to enable a user of an artificialreality navigation system to, unlike existing systems, specificallyremember relative associations for virtual worlds and items containedwithin/defined for those worlds. Further, implementations of the presenttechnology can, by enabling such direct travel, conserve systemresources (e.g., battery power) and reduce processing time for anartificial reality system since it is unnecessary to load, store, andaccess a home lobby.

Another way in which implementations of the present technology areunlike existing systems includes an ability to provide increasedsecurity for user content via a personal interface runtime that operatesindependently of any application in control of a virtual world. As aresult, the risk of access to user content and potential manipulation ofsuch content (e.g., credit cards, inventory items, etc.) by such anapplication is substantially eliminated.

Yet another way in which implementations of the present technologyimprove upon existing artificial reality systems includes the ability toprovide multiple avenues for the introduction and display of 3D content,thus demonstrating increased useability and flexibility over thosecurrent systems. For instance and whereas existing systems are limitedto providing 3D content merely from a single application at any giventime, the present technology can provide 3D content via the personalinterface as well as from an application that is external to a currentvirtual world (e.g., a casting application).

Still further, implementations of the present technology can enabledirect access to content that can be shown in the personal interface.For example, the current implementations can provide a system ofdeeplinks between selectable entities and corresponding controllers,thus allowing third-party systems to provide contextual and controlinformation without requiring a user to filter through another externalsystem to access and obtain that information.

Several implementations are discussed below in more detail in referenceto the figures. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an overview ofdevices on which some implementations of the disclosed technology canoperate. The devices can comprise hardware components of a computingsystem 100 that enables controlling an artificial reality (XR)environment, such as by providing user interfaces for interactions witha current XR application, providing detail views for selected items,navigating between multiple virtual worlds without having to transitionin and out of a home lobby for those worlds, executing aspects of asecond XR application while within a world controlled by a first XRapplication, and providing 3D content that is separate from the currentworld. In various implementations, computing system 100 can include asingle computing device 103 or multiple computing devices (e.g.,computing device 101, computing device 102, and computing device 103)that communicate over wired or wireless channels to distributeprocessing and share input data. In some implementations, computingsystem 100 can include a stand-alone headset capable of providing acomputer created or augmented experience for a user without the need forexternal processing or sensors. In other implementations, computingsystem 100 can include multiple computing devices such as a headset anda core processing component (such as a console, mobile device, or serversystem) where some processing operations are performed on the headsetand others are offloaded to the core processing component. Exampleheadsets are described below in relation to FIGS. 2A and 2B. In someimplementations, position and environment data can be gathered only bysensors incorporated in the headset device, while in otherimplementations one or more of the non-headset computing devices caninclude sensor components that can track environment or position data.

Computing system 100 can include one or more processor(s) 110 (e.g.,central processing units (CPUs), graphical processing units (GPUs),holographic processing units (H P Us), etc.) Processors 110 can be asingle processing unit or multiple processing units in a device ordistributed across multiple devices (e.g., distributed across two ormore of computing devices 101-103).

Computing system 100 can include one or more input devices 120 thatprovide input to the processors 110, notifying them of actions. Theactions can be mediated by a hardware controller that interprets thesignals received from the input device and communicates the informationto the processors 110 using a communication protocol. Each input device120 can include, for example, a mouse, a keyboard, a touchscreen, atouchpad, a wearable input device (e.g., a haptics glove, a bracelet, aring, an earring, a necklace, a watch, etc.), a camera (or otherlight-based input device, e.g., an infrared sensor), a microphone, orother user input devices.

Processors 110 can be coupled to other hardware devices, for example,with the use of an internal or external bus, such as a PCI bus, SCSIbus, or wireless connection. The processors 110 can communicate with ahardware controller for devices, such as for a display 130. Display 130can be used to display text and graphics. In some implementations,display 130 includes the input device as part of the display, such aswhen the input device is a touchscreen or is equipped with an eyedirection monitoring system. In some implementations, the display isseparate from the input device. Examples of display devices are: an LCDdisplay screen, an LED display screen, a projected, holographic, oraugmented reality display (such as a heads-up display device or ahead-mounted device), and so on. Other I/O devices 140 can also becoupled to the processor, such as a network chip or card, video chip orcard, audio chip or card, USB, firewire or other external device,camera, printer, speakers, CD-ROM drive, DVD drive, disk drive, etc.

In some implementations, input from the I/O devices 140, such ascameras, depth sensors, IMU sensor, GPS units, LiDAR or othertime-of-flights sensors, etc. can be used by the computing system 100 toidentify and map the physical environment of the user while tracking theuser's location within that environment. This simultaneous localizationand mapping (SLAM) system can generate maps (e.g., topologies, girds,etc.) for an area (which may be a room, building, outdoor space, etc.)and/or obtain maps previously generated by computing system 100 oranother computing system that had mapped the area. The SLAM system cantrack the user within the area based on factors such as GPS data,matching identified objects and structures to mapped objects andstructures, monitoring acceleration and other position changes, etc.

Computing system 100 can include a communication device capable ofcommunicating wirelessly or wire-based with other local computingdevices or a network node. The communication device can communicate withanother device or a server through a network using, for example, TCP/IPprotocols. Computing system 100 can utilize the communication device todistribute operations across multiple network devices.

The processors 110 can have access to a memory 150, which can becontained on one of the computing devices of computing system 100 or canbe distributed across of the multiple computing devices of computingsystem 100 or other external devices. A memory includes one or morehardware devices for volatile or non-volatile storage, and can includeboth read-only and writable memory. For example, a memory can includeone or more of random access memory (RAM), various caches, CPUregisters, read-only memory (ROM), and writable non-volatile memory,such as flash memory, hard drives, floppy disks, CDs, DVDs, magneticstorage devices, tape drives, and so forth. A memory is not apropagating signal divorced from underlying hardware; a memory is thusnon-transitory. Memory 150 can include program memory 160 that storesprograms and software, such as an operating system 162, artificialreality (XR) control and navigation system 164, and other applicationprograms 166. Memory 150 can also include data memory 170 that caninclude, e.g., virtual world location data, virtual world item locationdata, configuration data, settings, user options or preferences, etc.,which can be provided to the program memory 160 or any element of thecomputing system 100.

Some implementations can be operational with numerous other computingsystem environments or configurations. Examples of computing systems,environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use withthe technology include, but are not limited to, XR headsets, personalcomputers, server computers, handheld or laptop devices, cellulartelephones, wearable electronics, gaming consoles, tablet devices,multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, set-top boxes,programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, or the like.

FIG. 2A is a wire diagram of a virtual reality head-mounted display(HMD) 200, in accordance with some embodiments. The HMD 200 includes afront rigid body 205 and a band 210. The front rigid body 205 includesone or more electronic display elements of an electronic display 245, aninertial motion unit (IMU) 215, one or more position sensors 220,locators 225, and one or more compute units 230. The position sensors220, the IMU 215, and compute units 230 may be internal to the HMD 200and may not be visible to the user. In various implementations, the IMU215, position sensors 220, and locators 225 can track movement andlocation of the HMD 200 in the real world and in an artificial realityenvironment in three degrees of freedom (3DoF) or six degrees of freedom(6DoF). For example, the locators 225 can emit infrared light beamswhich create light points on real objects around the HMD 200. As anotherexample, the IMU 215 can include e.g., one or more accelerometers,gyroscopes, magnetometers, other non-camera-based position, force, ororientation sensors, or combinations thereof. One or more cameras (notshown) integrated with the HMD 200 can detect the light points. Computeunits 230 in the HMD 200 can use the detected light points toextrapolate position and movement of the HMD 200 as well as to identifythe shape and position of the real objects surrounding the HMD 200.

The electronic display 245 can be integrated with the front rigid body205 and can provide image light to a user as dictated by the computeunits 230. In various embodiments, the electronic display 245 can be asingle electronic display or multiple electronic displays (e.g., adisplay for each user eye). Examples of the electronic display 245include: a liquid crystal display (LCD), an organic light-emitting diode(OLED) display, an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode display(AMOLED), a display including one or more quantum dot light-emittingdiode (QOLED) sub-pixels, a projector unit (e.g., microLED, LASER,etc.), some other display, or some combination thereof.

In some implementations, the HMD 200 can be coupled to a core processingcomponent such as a personal computer (PC) (not shown) and/or one ormore external sensors (not shown). The external sensors can monitor theHMD 200 (e.g., via light emitted from the HMD 200) which the PC can use,in combination with output from the IMU 215 and position sensors 220, todetermine the location and movement of the HMD 200.

FIG. 2B is a wire diagram of a mixed reality HMD system 250 whichincludes a mixed reality HMD 252 and a core processing component 254.The mixed reality HMD 252 and the core processing component 254 cancommunicate via a wireless connection (e.g., a 60 GHz link) as indicatedby link 256. In other implementations, the mixed reality system 250includes a headset only, without an external compute device or includesother wired or wireless connections between the mixed reality HMD 252and the core processing component 254. The mixed reality HMD 252includes a pass-through display 258 and a frame 260. The frame 260 canhouse various electronic components (not shown) such as light projectors(e.g., LASERs, LEDs, etc.), cameras, eye-tracking sensors, MEMScomponents, networking components, etc.

The projectors can be coupled to the pass-through display 258, e.g., viaoptical elements, to display media to a user. The optical elements caninclude one or more waveguide assemblies, reflectors, lenses, mirrors,collimators, gratings, etc., for directing light from the projectors toa user's eye. Image data can be transmitted from the core processingcomponent 254 via link 256 to HMD 252. Controllers in the HMD 252 canconvert the image data into light pulses from the projectors, which canbe transmitted via the optical elements as output light to the user'seye. The output light can mix with light that passes through the display258, allowing the output light to present virtual objects that appear asif they exist in the real world.

Similarly to the HMD 200, the HMD system 250 can also include motion andposition tracking units, cameras, light sources, etc., which allow theHMD system 250 to, e.g., track itself in 3DoF or 6DoF, track portions ofthe user (e.g., hands, feet, head, or other body parts), map virtualobjects to appear as stationary as the HMD 252 moves, and have virtualobjects react to gestures and other real-world objects.

FIG. 2C illustrates controllers 270 (including controller 276A and276B), which, in some implementations, a user can hold in one or bothhands to interact with an artificial reality environment presented bythe HMD 200 and/or HMD 250. The controllers 270 can be in communicationwith the HMDs, either directly or via an external device (e.g., coreprocessing component 254). The controllers can have their own IMU units,position sensors, and/or can emit further light points. The HMD 200 or250, external sensors, or sensors in the controllers can track thesecontroller light points to determine the controller positions and/ororientations (e.g., to track the controllers in 3DoF or 6DoF). Thecompute units 230 in the HMD 200 or the core processing component 254can use this tracking, in combination with IMU and position output, tomonitor hand positions and motions of the user. The controllers can alsoinclude various buttons (e.g., buttons 272A-F) and/or joysticks (e.g.,joysticks 274A-B), which a user can actuate to provide input andinteract with objects.

In various implementations, the HMD 200 or 250 can also includeadditional subsystems, such as an eye tracking unit, an audio system,various network components, etc., to monitor indications of userinteractions and intentions. For example, in some implementations,instead of or in addition to controllers, one or more cameras includedin the HMD 200 or 250, or from external cameras, can monitor thepositions and poses of the user's hands to determine gestures and otherhand and body motions. As another example, one or more light sources canilluminate either or both of the user's eyes and the HMD 200 or 250 canuse eye-facing cameras to capture a reflection of this light todetermine eye position (e.g., based on set of reflections around theuser's cornea), modeling the user's eye and determining a gazedirection.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an overview of an environment 300in which some implementations of the disclosed technology can operate.Environment 300 can include one or more client computing devices 305A-D,examples of which can include computing system 100. In someimplementations, some of the client computing devices (e.g., clientcomputing device 305B) can be the HMD 200 or the HMD system 250. Clientcomputing devices 305 can operate in a networked environment usinglogical connections through network 330 to one or more remote computers,such as a server computing device.

In some implementations, server 310 can be an edge server which receivesclient requests and coordinates fulfillment of those requests throughother servers, such as servers 320A-C. Server computing devices 310 and320 can comprise computing systems, such as computing system 100. Thougheach server computing device 310 and 320 is displayed logically as asingle server, server computing devices can each be a distributedcomputing environment encompassing multiple computing devices located atthe same or at geographically disparate physical locations.

Client computing devices 305 and server computing devices 310 and 320can each act as a server or client to other server/client device(s).Server 310 can connect to a database 315. Servers 320A-C can eachconnect to a corresponding database 325A-C. As discussed above, eachserver 310 or 320 can correspond to a group of servers, and each ofthese servers can share a database or can have their own database.Though databases 315 and 325 are displayed logically as single units,databases 315 and 325 can each be a distributed computing environmentencompassing multiple computing devices, can be located within theircorresponding server, or can be located at the same or at geographicallydisparate physical locations.

Network 330 can be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network(WAN), a mesh network, a hybrid network, or other wired or wirelessnetworks. Network 330 may be the Internet or some other public orprivate network. Client computing devices 305 can be connected tonetwork 330 through a network interface, such as by wired or wirelesscommunication. While the connections between server 310 and servers 320are shown as separate connections, these connections can be any kind oflocal, wide area, wired, or wireless network, including network 330 or aseparate public or private network.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating components 400 which, in someimplementations, can be used in a system employing the disclosedtechnology. Components 400 can be included in one device of computingsystem 100 or can be distributed across multiple of the devices ofcomputing system 100. The components 400 include hardware 410, mediator420, and specialized components 430. As discussed above, a systemimplementing the disclosed technology can use various hardware includingprocessing units 412, working memory 414, input and output devices 416(e.g., cameras, displays, IMU units, network connections, etc.), andstorage memory 418. In various implementations, storage memory 418 canbe one or more of: local devices, interfaces to remote storage devices,or combinations thereof. For example, storage memory 418 can be one ormore hard drives or flash drives accessible through a system bus or canbe a cloud storage provider (such as in storage 315 or 325) or othernetwork storage accessible via one or more communications networks. Invarious implementations, components 400 can be implemented in a clientcomputing device such as client computing devices 305 or on a servercomputing device, such as server computing device 310 or 320.

Mediator 420 can include components which mediate resources betweenhardware 410 and specialized components 430. For example, mediator 420can include an operating system, services, drivers, a basic input outputsystem (BIOS), controller circuits, or other hardware or softwaresystems.

Specialized components 430 can include software or hardware configuredto perform operations for controlling an artificial reality (XR)environment, such as by providing user interfaces for interactions witha current XR application, providing detail views for selected items,navigating between multiple virtual worlds without having to transitionin and out of a home lobby for those worlds, executing aspects of asecond XR application while within a world controlled by a first XRapplication, and providing 3D content that is separate from the currentworld. Specialized components 430 can include an information retrievalmodule 434, an information assessment module 436, a travel executionmodule 438, a content mode generation module 440, a content facilitationmodule 442, a content selection module 444, a content transfer module446, a content presentation module 448, and components and APIs whichcan be used for providing user interfaces, transferring data, andcontrolling the specialized components, such as interfaces 432. In someimplementations, components 400 can be in a computing system that isdistributed across multiple computing devices or can be an interface toa server-based application executing one or more of specializedcomponents 430. Although depicted as separate components, specializedcomponents 430 may be logical or other nonphysical differentiations offunctions and/or may be submodules or code-blocks of one or moreapplications.

In some implementations, information retrieval module 434 can retrieveinformation (i.e., “data”) which can be used to activate the personalinterface. For instance, such data can include gestures, utterances, andother activity of a user while traveling within a virtual world. In someimplementations, information retrieval module 434 can retrieve a userselection of an XR application corresponding to a virtual world to whichthe user desires to travel, including specific destinations for thatworld. In some implementations, information retrieval module 434 can,for a virtual world, retrieve data corresponding to user actions orspaces with which a user interacts. Such data can be in regard to aselection of a particular item (e.g., an object, a person, a dedicatedbroadcast space), a stare at a particular item in the virtual world oron the personal interface, a selection of a control on the personalinterface, a conversation with an individual in a virtual world, etc.Further, information retrieval module 434 can retrieve data for a 3Dcontent trigger action that can cause the personal interface to display3D content exclusive of the virtual world being traveled by a user. Insuch a case, a non-exhaustive list of trigger actions can include userproximity to or selection of a particular item in a virtual world, agaze or stare at a particular item in a virtual world or on the personalinterface, selection of an item on the personal interface, navigating awebsite in a virtual world, presence in a virtual world that is detectedby its controlling application (to provide content designated by theapplication), and selecting one or more personal content items that auser desires to include in a virtual world. Additional details onretrieval of the above types of data are provided below in relation toblocks 602, 604, and 608 in FIG. 6 , block 702 in FIG. 7 , block 802 inFIG. 8 , and block 902 in FIG. 9 .

In some implementations, information assessment module 436 can performspecific assessments as regards travel to a virtual world and actionswithin that world. For instance, information assessment module 436 canassess which XR application corresponding to a virtual world a user hasselected for travel, as well whether the user has selected a particulartravel destination designated for that virtual world. In someimplementations, information assessment module 436 can assess types of3D content trigger actions that a user has taken within a virtual worldand which can cause the generation of 3D content on the personalinterface. Additionally, information assessment module 436 can evaluate,for a virtual world, a type (e.g., 2D or 3D) of broadcast space within avirtual world that can be dedicated for displaying or otherwisepresenting content for the virtual world. Additional details on theassessments performed by information assessment module 436 are providedin relation to blocks 604 and 608 in FIG. 6 , block 802 in FIG. 8 , andblock 902 in FIG. 9 .

In some implementations, travel execution module 438 can execute travelto a particular destination (e.g., a place, event, or one or moreindividuals) within a virtual world. For example, the travel can beexecuted according to a user's selection of a travel card presented by aXR application corresponding to a virtual world in response to theuser's selection of that application on the personal interface.Additional details on the types of travel that can be executed by thismodule are provided in relation to block 608 in FIG. 6 .

In some implementations, content mode generation module 440 candetermine a particular mode in which content ought to be generated. Forinstance, content mode generation module 440 can, in a case in which thepersonal interface acts to generate 3D content exclusive of the worldbeing traveled by a user, select how the 3D content should be presentedto a user via the personal interface. In these regards, exemplary modescan include presentation of content according to a display option, e.g.,in a vicinity of the personal interface, through a window provided inthe personal interface, or through a volumetric space generated by thepersonal interface. In some cases, content mode generation module 440can determine the particular mode as a function of the type of itemwhich was the subject of a 3D content trigger action, e.g., based on amapping of item types to display modes. In other cases, content modegeneration module 440 can always use the same display mode. In yet othercases, the application in control of displaying the 3D content canfurther specify which display mode to use. Additional details on contentmode generation performed by the content mode generation module 440 areprovided in relation to block 804 in FIG. 8 .

In some implementations, content facilitation module 442 can facilitatethe processing of a particular type of content that can augment avirtual world traveled by a user. For example, such module can enable,for a selected virtual space within a virtual world traveled by a user,a transfer of 2D and/or 3D content to that space. In this regard,content facilitation module 442 can detect a deeplink associated withthe space. Once detected, content facilitation module 442 can thentransfer that link to the personal interface, for instance, such that auser can then make selections for an application corresponding to acontent provider that can deliver content to the selected virtual space.Additional details on the content facilitation that can be performed bythe content facilitation module 442 are provided in relation to blocks904 and 906 in FIG. 9 .

In some implementations, content selection module 444 can execute theselection of content processed according to operation(s) of contentfacilitation module 442. That is, content selection module 444 canreceive 2D interface selections of the personal interface, for anapplication on the personal interface, that can provide content that canaugment a virtual world. Additional details on content selectionsperformed by content selection module 444 are provided in relation toblock 906 in FIG. 6 .

In some implementations, content transfer module 446 can transfer 3Dcontent to change or augment a virtual world traveled by a user. Anexample transfer can be directed to content of a XR applicationcorresponding to a virtual world to which the user desires to travel.Another example transfer can be directed to content to filled in avirtual space from a content provider whose content was facilitated bycontent facilitation module 442. Additional details on transfers of 3Dcontent performed by the content transfer module 446 are provided inrelation to block 610 in FIG. 6 and block 906 in FIG. 9 .

In some implementations, content presentation module 448 can present 3Dcontent according to a user selection for a XR application correspondingto a virtual world or a 2D application which can augment content forthat world. Additional details on presentations of content performed bythe content presentation module 448 are provided in relation block 610in FIG. 6 , block 706 in FIG. 7 , block 806 in FIG. 8 , and block 906 inFIG. 9 .

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the components illustratedin FIGS. 1-4 described above, and in each of the flow diagrams discussedbelow, may be altered in a variety of ways. For example, the order ofthe logic may be rearranged, substeps may be performed in parallel,illustrated logic may be omitted, other logic may be included, etc. Insome implementations, one or more of the components described above canexecute one or more of the processes described below.

FIG. 5 is a conceptual block diagram illustrating an exemplaryartificial reality (XR) application 500 which, in some implementations,can be used to generate 2D interfaces for display via a personalinterface and control 3D content for a corresponding virtual world inartificial reality. Therein, application 500 includes a controller 502,a personal interface builder 504, and a 3D world builder 506. Inoperation, an XR system can include multiple runtimes (runtime systemsor environments), one controlled by a currently active applicationdefining the current virtual world and one that is the personalinterface. While the personal interface can be a virtual object in the3D world with properties such as a size, reactions to physics, displayproperties, etc., what the personal interface displays can be a separateruntime from the virtual world. This separation between the virtualworld and the personal interface provides an ability for an activeapplication to output a 3D world while the user has access to featuresof other XR applications, such as travel cards to teleport directly intoanother virtual world. In various implementations, the personalinterface execution environment can be hidden from the activeapplication or can have access ports that the application executing onthe personal interface can control to surface only desired informationto the active application. Thus, XR applications can be conceptuallydivided into general control and access functions in controller 502, apersonal interface builder 504 module that executes under the personalinterface runtime to provide a 2D interface on the personal interface,and a 3D world builder module 506 which executes under a world runtimeto generate the current 3D world. A such, the 3D world builder 506 of anXR application is only active when that XR application is generating acurrent 3D world (or in some cases when a window in that world isneeded) while the personal interface builder 504 can be executed whenthe XR application is the current active application or when the XRapplication is selected in the personal interface when anotherapplication is the current active application.

Controller 502 can include all necessary coding and programming forcoordinating operations of personal interface builder 504 and 3D worldbuilder 506. For example, controller 502 can include APIs, e.g., forresponding to deeplink activations, triggering personal interfacebuilder 504 to generate 2D interfaces, or triggering 3D world builder506 to generate a 3D world. Personal interface builder 504 can respondto an activation, received via controller 502, of the application on apersonal interface. That activation can cause the personal interfacebuilder 504 to generate a 2D interface portion of the XR applicationthat can, e.g., control traveling to locations in a virtual world of theapplication, access features in a current virtual world such as userpreferences, social activities, using accessories, etc. When a user ofXR control and navigation system 164 uses the 2D interface from personalinterface builder 504 to travel to a location in a corresponding world,3D world builder 506 can cause, i.e., via communications performedthrough controller 502, that virtual world to load. In various cases,personal interface builder 504 and/or 3D world builder 506 can build the2D interface and 3D world using local content and/or content retrievedfrom a remote source. For example, a 3D world can include a number of 3Dmodels (e.g., trees, buildings, etc.) which can be manipulated bymultiple users in that 3D world. These 3D models can be stored locallyor retrieved from a server while the representations of the other usersand their states can be synchronized with such a server. As anotherexample, personal interface builder 504 can have templates that arefilled with locally stored content or live content retrieved from aserver.

In some implementations, personal interface builder 504 can itselfgenerate 3D content that can be displayed via the personal interfaceaccording to a display option for one or more items corresponding to thecontent. In this way, the personal interface, which can be a 2Dapplication having corresponding 2D interfaces to XR and otherapplications, can host and display content, separately from the virtualworld. Thus, the personal interface can serve as an output medium for anXR application in two distinct ways. First, the personal interface canbe a vehicle by which to simply present 2D interfaces for applicationse.g., enabling a user to travel among and interact with multiple virtualworlds corresponding to those applications. In this case, 3D content isunder the control of the XR application corresponding to a virtual worldtraveled by a user and generated external to the personal interface.Second, the personal interface can be a vehicle by which 3D content foran XR application is generated and displayed by the personal interfaceitself. Such 3D content can be exclusive of a virtual world beingtraveled by a user. This way, a user can, for instance, “preview” one ormore aspects of a given virtual world via the personal interface withouthaving to actually go to that virtual world.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a process 600 used in someimplementations of the present technology for using a personal interfaceof the XR control and navigation system 164 to navigate multiple virtualworlds in artificial reality. For instance, process 600 can be used toallow a user to travel, on the fly and interchangeably, between multiplevirtual worlds in which acquaintances of the user are located. In someimplementations, process 600 can be initiated by a user executing aprogram to create an artificial reality environment. In someimplementations, process 600 can be performed on a server system incontrol of that artificial reality environment; while in some cases allor parts of process 600 can be performed on an artificial reality clientdevice.

At block 602, a user of XR control and navigation system 164 canactivate the personal interface to access one or more controls (e.g.,avatar controls, content items which can be accessed, payment methodsand accounts access, navigational tools, etc.) while traveling within acurrent virtual world. For instance, the personal interface can beactivated and displayed to the user in response to the user making oneor more gestures, series of movements, utterances, activating a UIelement, etc. In some implementations, a user can activate the personalinterface using one or more of these prompts for activation to displaythe personal interface for the purpose of traveling to a subsequentvirtual world directly from a current virtual world.

In some cases, when the personal interface is activated, it can displaya 2D interface for the currently active application (i.e., theapplication in control of the current virtual world the user is in). Atblock 604, process 600 can receive a selection of another XR applicationfrom among multiple XR applications available through the personalinterface. In this regard, the selected XR application can represent asubsequent virtual world with which the user wishes to interact and/orto which the user desires to travel seamlessly from the current virtualworld. For making the selection of the XR application, process 600 canpresent the user a list of applications in which the applications can bestored locally on the personal interface and/or application shells thatprocess 600 has selected as being of interest to the user and whosecomponents can be downloaded upon selection. To facilitate theselection, process 600 can configure the applications to be searchableand/or organized according to a predetermined form of ranking (e.g.,most used).

At block 606, process 600 can display, via the personal interface, a 2Dinterface portion of the selected application. For instance, thedisplayed 2D interface portion can be in control of a 2D interface ofthe personal interface so as to output content corresponding to theselected application. During such control, such 2D interface portion canbe operative according to the runtime of the personal interface so as tonot be under any control of a controller of a current virtual world,i.e., the 2D interface portion can be operating under its own authoritywhen content for the selected application is displayed. In someimplementations, the content corresponding to the selected applicationthat is displayed can include, for example, information regarding thesource of the selected application (e.g., its origin), the type ofvirtual world that such application corresponds to, a listing of travelcards that can enable a user's travel to a particular destination withina corresponding virtual world, a listing of occupants for thecorresponding virtual world, avatars that will be made available to theuser upon arrival in the virtual world, etc.

At block 608, process 600 can receive a selection of a traveldestination via the displayed 2D interface portion of the selectedapplication. For example, the 2D interface portion can present the usermultiple travel cards for a subsequent virtual world corresponding tothe application, where the travel cards can indicate destinationsincluding places (museums, schools, resorts, etc.), events (sportingcompetitions, musical performances, parties, etc.), and people (friends,family members, supervisors, etc.), within the world. In this respect,the travel cards can have corresponding deeplinks such that a user cantravel directly to a respectively associated destination. In theseregards, the travel cards can be originated (i.e., defined by) one ormore of the following, such as natively by the selected application, asa result of scheduling for certain events for the subsequent virtualworld (e.g., timing for a sporting or musical event), according tomembership or presence in that world (e.g., a user's friends,celebrities, user's with special status in the world), when another userdesignates a location in that world as being of interest, etc. In someimplementations, particular aspects that can be included in a travelcard can include one or more of an avatar selection that a user will beprovided upon arrival in a subsequent virtual world, a description for aparticular event and its start time, for instance, activities for asubsequent virtual world, people that a user can join in such a world,etc.

At block 610, process 600 can cause the selected application to generateand display 3D content for the subsequent virtual world that correspondsto the selected travel destination. As an example, if the subsequentvirtual world includes a building having several rooms and the selectedtravel destination corresponds to a particular one of those rooms,process 600 can generate a representative 3D depiction for that room. Inthis respect, it can be understood that process 600 can cause generationof the room in 3D format according to operations of and betweencontroller 502 and 3D world building portion 506. In someimplementations, process 600 can generate 3D content for a virtual worldcorresponding to selected travel destination (such as the above room)from elements stored locally on the personal interface or otherwise(i.e., from a remote server). In some implementations, process 600 cangenerate 3D content for such a virtual world where, for an exemplarymulti-person environment, one or more states of displayed objects can besynchronized between users in that world (e.g., through one or more hostservers for the world).

At block 612, process 600 can return to block 602 to initiate travel foryet another subsequent virtual world in a case in which a user has notfinished traveling among virtual worlds in artificial reality. In a casein which the personal interface is still activated, i.e., not dismissedby a user according to or more prompts similar in type but different in,for example, number or sequence than those enabling activation, it iscontemplated that the user can merely tap the personal interface toawaken it. That is, XR control and navigation system 164 can configurethe personal interface to execute a sleep mode after a predeterminedperiod of inactivity in order to decrease distraction to a user whiletraveling a virtual world.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a process 700 used in someimplementations of the present technology for using the personalinterface to present content from a controller corresponding to aselected item. Process 700 can be initiated while a user is travelingwithin a virtual world corresponding to a selected XR application, andcan be performed either on a server system in control of that XRapplication or on an artificial reality client device operating theselected XR application. For example, process 700 can, for an item in avirtual world being traveled by a user, present content for that item onthe personal interface in real time. Such an item could be, forinstance, a painting hung in a virtual world for a museum, where thepresented content could include the name of the artist, a history of theartist, other paintings painted by the artist, etc.

At block 702, process 700 can receive a selection of an item, such as anitem in a current virtual world being traveled by a user or an itemselected through the personal interface. For example, the selection canbe a result of the user interacting with (e.g., touching, gazing, etc.)the item, being in a predetermined proximity to the item, havingtraveled by the item a predetermined number of times within a certaininterval of time, tapping the item when the item is displayed on thepersonal interface, speaking a command indicating the item, etc.

At block 704, process 700 can access a deeplink to a controllercorresponding to the selected item. The deeplink can be included in adata structure for the selected item and can specify the destinationcontroller and one or more parameters to pass to the controller (e.g.,an identity of the selected item, an identity of the user, contextualinformation of the selection such as which virtual world it was in, whoelse is present, etc.). For instance, the deeplink can specify thedestination as a module or function call in a current application,another local XR application, a URI for a remote service, etc. In somecases, the controller can correspond to the application for the currentvirtual world being traveled by the user. In other cases, the controllercan correspond to an external local or remotely served application,i.e., an application separate from an application in control of thecurrent virtual world. In some implementations, the controller cancorrespond to a system component mapped to the selected item, such as apeople profile manager, a social graph module, or a contacts modulemapped to a people-type item; a file picker mapped to a media playertype item, a digital wallet mapped to a payment portal type item; ascheduling manager defining availability for certain areas within thecurrent virtual world; etc. In some cases, the selected item can be anarea of a virtual world, and at block 704, process 700 can access thecontroller deeplink as a result of the user entering that area. Whenprocess 700 accesses the deeplink corresponding to a selected item,process 700 can provide via the personal interface runtime a request tothe controller for corresponding information to display in the personalinterface, where the request can specify, e.g., the specified parametersfor the selected item.

At block 706, process 700 can receive the requested content, from thecontroller of the selected item, and can display that content on thepersonal interface. There are no limits on the type of the content thatcan be provided, but examples include a details page for the selecteditem, the user's notes on the selected item, the 2D interface of the XRapplication that is the controller for the selected item, a default pageprovided by a system component providing meta-data from the selecteditem, another 3D model, a view into another virtual world, etc.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram illustrating a process 800 used in someimplementations of the present technology for generating and displaying3D content via the personal interface. Process 800 can be initiatedwhile a user is traveling within a virtual world. Process 800 can beperformed on an XR device or, in some cases, can be performed on aserver system supporting such an XR device where operations such as“displaying 3D content” are to be understood as causing display of suchcontent on the XR device. For instance, process 800 could generate anddisplay 3D content, via the personal interface, for the paintingdiscussed in relation to FIG. 7 .

While a user is traveling within a current virtual world, process 800can, at block 802, receive one or more 3D content trigger actions. Suchtrigger actions can be, for a user's activity within the current virtualworld, actions and/or context that the XR control and navigation system164 has mapped to display corresponding 3D content in the virtualpersonal interface runtime. For example, the content trigger actions caninclude user proximity to or selection of a particular item in a virtualworld, a gaze or stare at a particular item in a virtual world or on thepersonal interface, selection of an item on the personal interface,navigating to a website in a virtual web browser, presence in a virtualworld that is detected by its controlling application (to providecontent designated by the application), selecting one or more personalcontent items that a user desires to include in a virtual world,selection of an item where a corresponding deeplinked controllerprovides 3D content in response (as discussed above in relation to FIG.7 ), etc.

At block 804, process 800 can generate 3D content according to a displayoption. In particular, process 800 can generate such 3D content in theruntime of the personal interface, where the generated content may notbe accessible to, or under the control of a respective application thatis in control of the current virtual world. The generated content canrelate to an item which was the target or subject of a given 3D contenttrigger action. For example, if a user was in proximity to anadvertisement in the current virtual world, corresponding generatedcontent can be sourced by an application under the control of anassociated advertiser. In this regard, it can be understood that apersonal interface builder (see personal interface builder 504 of FIG. 5and accompanying discussion) of the sourcing application can provide 3Dcontent to the personal interface as part of the content generationaccording to block 804—which may be triggered by a deeplink activationto the sourcing application as discussed in relation to FIG. 7 .Depending upon a nature of the content to be generated, process 800 cangenerate that content in accordance with a particular display option,i.e., a way that the controlling application prescribes display for theitem relative to the personal interface. In various implementations, thesystem may only allow one display option, the display option may be setby the content provider or set as meta-data on the content, or there maybe a mapping of content types to display options. The display optionsthat can be executed by the personal interface can include displayingthe generated content in a vicinity of the personal interface, throughthe personal interface acting as a window to another virtual world, orthrough a portal (e.g., a volume) extending through the personalinterface and through which the item can be accessed by a user. Forexample, where the content is a 3D model of below a certain size, theportal display option may be used, where the content is a 3D model ofabove the certain size, the vicinity display option may be used, andwhere the content is a link to another virtual world the window displayoption may be used.

At block 806, process 800 can display the generated content according tothe corresponding display option. This way, process 800 can provide thepersonal interface as an output medium for the 3D content in a mannerwhich is not under the control of or in any way disrupts display of thecurrent virtual world being traveled by a user.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram illustrating a process 900 used in someimplementations of the present technology for populating a dedicatedspace within a virtual world with content sourced by an applicationexternal to that virtual world. Process 900 can be initiated while auser is traveling within a virtual world corresponding to a selected XRapplication, e.g., process 900 can be available as part of an interfacebetween a virtual world and the personal interface where access todesignated spaces in the virtual world cause selection for those spacesin the personal interface or conversely where content selected viacoordination in the personal interface can then be provided to access adesignated space in the virtual world. Process 900 can be performed onan XR device such as in a runtime of a personal interface. In somecases, process 900 could be performed on a server system in control ofsuch an XR device. In these regards, and for example, process 900 canpopulate a dedicated movie screen within a virtual world with contentfor a movie selected by a user from a listing of movies provided to theuser according to an application stored on a personal interface.

At block 902, process 900 can receive a selection of a virtual space,within a current virtual world being traveled by a user, that isdesignated for external content. In this regard, the virtual space canbe, for example, a 2D and/or a 3D space. For example, such a designedspace, selected by a user for displaying a movie, can be configured toemit video and/or audio content. Such a virtual space can be associatedto a deeplink representing an addressed location for the virtual space.

At block 904, process 900 can receive a selection of the provider ofcontent which is to be output for the designated virtual space. Forexample, the selection can be the result of a user choosing, on thepersonal interface, a particular external application of a contentprovider that provides content that the user desires to be output to thedesignated virtual space. Alternatively, the designated virtual spacecan be assigned to a particular content provider such that when a userselects the virtual space (as at block 902), the content provider ispre-selected. In some implementations, the selection can be of aparticular 2D or 3D content item the user wants to have shown in thedesignated virtual space.

In some implementations, process 900 can be performed such that first auser selects a content item in block 904, then selects a virtual spacedesignated for external content. For example, a user may select a videoand then a control which brings up a list of dedicated virtual spaces inthe area that supports playing external videos. As another example auser may select a 3D model and then a control which brings up a list ofdedicated volumes in the area that are large enough to hold the selected3D model or that are designated to hold the type of the selected 3Dmodel.

At block 906, process 900 can provide access to the selected virtualspace to the selected content provider, where the providing of theaccess causes the content provider to fill content into the selectedvirtual space. A selection of a content provider can cause the deeplinkfor the dedicated space to be issued to the content provider, whichallows the content provider to access the dedicated space and displaycontent there. For example, the deeplink can be an address or ID for avirtual casting screen that a streaming video content provider can thenuse to output streaming video. In these regards, the content providercan fill the selected virtual space with 2D and/or 3D content, i.e., ifthe space includes a 3D capacity, the provider can further fill thespace with corresponding 3D content.

FIG. 10 is a diagram 1000 illustrating an exemplary personal interface1002. As can be understood from the discussion thus far, the personalinterface can provide an interface such as various 2D or 3D componentsapplication, that can present 2D interfaces for applications, systemcontrols, user preference settings, etc. That is, some of the interfacesin the personal interface can be 2D interface portions from an XRapplication (e.g., built by personal interface builder 504 of FIG. 5 ).The personal interface can include a 2D interface for an applicationcontrolling the current virtual world (e.g., elements 1006, 1008, 1010and 1012—allowing the user to interact with the current “Dreamland”virtual world 1004 through a uniform array of exemplary controls. Asshown, such controls can include avatar controls 1006 enabling a user tocontrol, for instance, motions of an avatar representing the user orother entity in a virtual world. In addition, such controls can includeselections for content items 1008 (e.g., avatar apparel, avataraccessories, collectibles, etc.) that the user may desire to includewithin a virtual world, payment methods/accounts access 1010 as means topurchases goods and/or services, as well as navigational tools 1012(e.g., a list of places in the current world the user may want to travelto, events occurring, bookmarked locations, etc.) enabling a user tomaneuver and record experiences within a virtual world. To enable a userto travel seamlessly between virtual worlds in artificial reality, thepersonal interface can also present access to the 2D interfaces formultiple user-selectable XR applications, here shown in list 1014corresponding to XR applications installed on the XR device that havecorresponding virtual worlds.

FIG. 11 is a diagram 1100 illustrating an exemplary personal interface1102 depicting virtual world destinations which can be executable by auser upon selection of an artificial reality (XR) application on thepersonal interface 1102. For instance, in a case in which a user selectsan XR application corresponding to the virtual world 1104 of“Clubhouse,” personal interface 1102 can present a 2D interface for thatXR application, which in this example includes user listings ofdestinations 1106 that a user can travel to within that world. That is,the destinations 1102 can be associated to deeplinks enabling a user totravel directly to a corresponding location. Exemplary destinations cancorrespond to locations within the world (e.g., places, events, such asLocations 1 and 2), and people or groups within the world (e.g., Group1), such that a user can travel to join those people and share in theexperience of a particular event (e.g., a concert). Additionally, inthis example the 2D interface for the Clubhouse XR application includesoccupants 1108 of the Clubhouse virtual world, which the user can selectto, for instance, review a current location for an occupant,corresponding social media presence, and other types of public postings.

FIGS. 12A-12C illustrate instances in which a personal interface of XRcontrol and navigation system 164 can present 3D content in artificialreality according to various display options. For example, FIG. 12A isan exemplary diagram 1200 illustrating the personal interface 1202providing 3D content 1204 separate from a world currently traveled by auser. The 3D content 1204 is in a vicinity of the personal interface(i.e., in a volume under control of the personal interface). Inparticular, the generated 3D content 1204 can relate to a worldcorresponding to an item to which a 3D content trigger action wasdirected (as discussed above in relation to FIG. 8 ).

As another example 1250, FIG. 12B is an exemplary diagram illustrating apersonal interface 1252 providing a window 1254 into a virtual world“Clubhouse” that is other than the world currently being traveled of“Car Exhibition” 1256. Similar to FIG. 12A in that the generated 3Dcontent can correspond to a virtual world for an item corresponding to a3D content trigger action, the personal interface 1252 can here presentthat content in a window 1254 where the other virtual world is depictedas being viewed through the personal interface 1252. Here, such othervirtual world corresponds to a portion of the Clubhouse depicted forFIG. 11 .

As yet another example 1275, FIG. 12C is an exemplary diagramillustrating a personal interface 1277 providing a portal into a 3Dvolume 1280, separate from the world currently traveled by a user(“Clubhouse” 1279). In particular, the personal interface 1277 canprovide the volume 1280 as a space within the personal interface 1277,through which a user can view and, in some implementations, interactwith 3D content presented in the 3D volume in a runtime separate fromthe current virtual world (as shown here with the user's hand 1282reaching into the volume 1280 to interact with the content item 1281).

It can be understood that implementations of the present technology canimplement one or more of the display options discussed above inaccordance with the particular item to which a 3D content trigger actionhas been directed. For instance, if a user is traveling in a currentworld and is interacting with a given one of “My Content Items,” then acontroller in control of that item can determine which display option isapplicable. In other implementations, the 3D item type can be mapped toa particular display option. In yet other implementations, the systemcan be configured to use only one or two of the display options.

FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram 1300 illustrating populating a dedicatedspace 1304 within a virtual world with content sourced by an applicationexternal to that virtual world. For example, in response to a usertraveling within a virtual world of “Clubhouse” 1302 and selecting acasting space 1304 (a projection screen, blank banner, open volume,etc.), the user can use a personal interface 1306 displayed to her toselect content 1308 to be cast to that space. That is, the user canselect, for instance, video 2, which can correspond to a video from acontent provider able to cast one or more of 2D and 3D content accordingto a deeplink, for the casting space 1304, that delineates itsrespective address and content capacity. This way, a user experience forsuch a virtual world as Dreamland can be enhanced by the inclusion ofmaterial that can be personally selected by a user and provided from a3rd party source.

Reference in this specification to “implementations” (e.g., “someimplementations,” “various implementations,” “one implementation,” “animplementation,” etc.) means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the implementation isincluded in at least one implementation of the disclosure. Theappearances of these phrases in various places in the specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same implementation, nor areseparate or alternative implementations mutually exclusive of otherimplementations. Moreover, various features are described which may beexhibited by some implementations and not by others. Similarly, variousrequirements are described which may be requirements for someimplementations but not for other implementations.

As used herein, being above a threshold means that a value for an itemunder comparison is above a specified other value, that an item undercomparison is among a certain specified number of items with the largestvalue, or that an item under comparison has a value within a specifiedtop percentage value. As used herein, being below a threshold means thata value for an item under comparison is below a specified other value,that an item under comparison is among a certain specified number ofitems with the smallest value, or that an item under comparison has avalue within a specified bottom percentage value. As used herein, beingwithin a threshold means that a value for an item under comparison isbetween two specified other values, that an item under comparison isamong a middle-specified number of items, or that an item undercomparison has a value within a middle-specified percentage range.Relative terms, such as high or unimportant, when not otherwise defined,can be understood as assigning a value and determining how that valuecompares to an established threshold. For example, the phrase “selectinga fast connection” can be understood to mean selecting a connection thathas a value assigned corresponding to its connection speed that is abovea threshold.

As used herein, the word “or” refers to any possible permutation of aset of items. For example, the phrase “A, B, or C” refers to at leastone of A, B, C, or any combination thereof, such as any of: A; B; C; Aand B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C; or multiple of any item such as Aand A; B, B, and C; A, A, B, C, and C; etc.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Specific embodiments and implementations have been described herein forpurposes of illustration, but various modifications can be made withoutdeviating from the scope of the embodiments and implementations. Thespecific features and acts described above are disclosed as exampleforms of implementing the claims that follow. Accordingly, theembodiments and implementations are not limited except as by theappended claims.

Any patents, patent applications, and other references noted above areincorporated herein by reference. Aspects can be modified, if necessary,to employ the systems, functions, and concepts of the various referencesdescribed above to provide yet further implementations. If statements orsubject matter in a document incorporated by reference conflicts withstatements or subject matter of this application, then this applicationshall control.

I/We claim:
 1. A method of navigating multiple virtual worlds inartificial reality, the method comprising: providing a personalinterface with 2D interfaces to multiple applications, wherein eachapplication has a 3D world building portion that controls one of thevirtual worlds executed in a first runtime, and a 2D interface portionthat controls one of the 2D interfaces executed in a second runtime ofthe personal interface; and transitioning to a subsequent virtual worldby: receiving a selection of an application, of the multipleapplications, corresponding to the subsequent virtual world; displaying,via the second runtime of the personal interface, the 2D interfaceportion of the selected application, wherein the 2D interface portion ofthe selected application comprises one or more travel cards, each travelcard defining a link to a respective travel destination for thesubsequent virtual world; receiving a selection of a travel destinationvia the displayed 2D interface portion of the selected application; andcausing, in response to the selection, the selected application togenerate and display a 3D world, in the first runtime, corresponding tothe selected travel destination.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thereceiving the selection of the application corresponding to thesubsequent virtual world occurs concurrently with display for a currentvirtual world.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the personal interfaceappears with consistent controls in both a current virtual world and thesubsequent virtual world.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the traveldestinations correspond to one or more of (a) places within thesubsequent virtual world, (b) events within the subsequent virtualworld, (c) people within the subsequent virtual world, or (d) anycombination thereof.
 5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:receiving a selection of an item, in the subsequent virtual world, thatcorresponds to a controller; accessing content, from the controller, viaa deeplink associated with the selected item; and presenting thecontent, from the controller, on the personal interface in the secondruntime of the personal interface.
 6. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising: generating, in the second runtime of the personal interfaceexclusive of the first runtime, 3D content by the personal interface inresponse to receiving a 3D content trigger action for an item in thesubsequent virtual world or on the personal interface; and displayingthe generated 3D content by the personal interface according to adisplay option, wherein the display option specifies one of 3D contentbeing displayed A) at a specified location relative to the personalinterface, B) with the personal interface as a window into another 3Dworld which is the 3D content, or C) with the personal interface being aportal to a volume containing the 3D content.
 7. A computing system fornavigating multiple virtual worlds in artificial reality, the computingsystem comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memoriesstoring instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors,cause the computing system to perform a process comprising: providing apersonal interface with 2D interfaces to multiple applications, whereineach application has a 3D world building portion that controls one ofthe virtual worlds executed in a first runtime, and a 2D interfaceportion that controls one of the 2D interfaces executed in a secondruntime of the personal interface; and transitioning to a subsequentvirtual world by: receiving a selection of an application, of themultiple applications, corresponding to the subsequent virtual world,displaying, via the second runtime of the personal interface, the 2Dinterface portion of the selected application, receiving a selection ofa travel destination via the displayed 2D interface portion of theselected application, and causing, in response to the selection, theselected application to generate and display a 3D world, in the firstruntime, corresponding to the selected travel destination.
 8. Thecomputing system of claim 7, wherein the 2D interface portion of theselected application comprises one or more travel cards, each travelcard defining a link to a respective travel destination for thesubsequent virtual world.
 9. The computing system of claim 8, whereinthe travel destinations correspond to one or more of (a) places withinthe subsequent virtual world, (b) events within the subsequent virtualworld, (c) people within the subsequent virtual world, or (d) anycombination thereof.
 10. The computing system of claim 7, wherein thereceiving the selection of the application corresponding to thesubsequent virtual world occurs concurrently with display for a currentvirtual world.
 11. The computing system of claim 7, wherein the personalinterface appears with consistent controls in both a current virtualworld and the subsequent virtual world.
 12. The computing system ofclaim 7, wherein the process further comprises: receiving a selection ofan item, in the subsequent virtual world, that corresponds to acontroller; accessing content, from the controller, via a deeplinkassociated with the selected item; and presenting the content, from thecontroller, on the personal interface in the second runtime of thepersonal interface.
 13. The computing system of claim 7, wherein themethod further comprises generating, in the second runtime of thepersonal interface exclusive of the first runtime, 3D content by thepersonal interface in response to receiving a 3D content trigger actionfor an item in the subsequent virtual world or on the personalinterface; and displaying the generated 3D content by the personalinterface according to a display option, wherein the display optionspecifies one of 3D content being displayed A) at a specified locationrelative to the personal interface, B) with the personal interface as awindow into another 3D world which is the 3D content, or C) with thepersonal interface being a portal to a volume containing the 3D content.14. A machine-readable storage medium having machine-executableinstructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or moreprocessors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method fornavigating multiple virtual worlds in artificial reality, the methodcomprising: providing a personal interface with 2D interfaces tomultiple applications, wherein each application has a 3D world buildingportion that controls one of the virtual worlds executed in a firstruntime, and a 2D interface portion that controls one of the 2Dinterfaces executed in a second runtime of the personal interface; andtransitioning to a subsequent virtual world by: receiving a selection ofan application, of the multiple applications, corresponding to thesubsequent virtual world, displaying, via the second runtime of thepersonal interface, the 2D interface portion of the selectedapplication, receiving a selection of a travel destination via thedisplayed 2D interface portion of the selected application, and causing,in response to the selection, the selected application to generate anddisplay a 3D world, in the first runtime, corresponding to the selectedtravel destination.
 15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 14,wherein the 2D interface portion of the selected application comprisesone or more travel cards, each travel card defining a link to arespective travel destination for the subsequent virtual world.
 16. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the traveldestinations correspond to one or more of (a) places within thesubsequent virtual world, (b) events within the subsequent virtualworld, (c) people within the subsequent virtual world, or (d) anycombination thereof.
 17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim14, wherein the receiving the selection of the application correspondingto the subsequent virtual world occurs concurrently with display for acurrent virtual world.
 18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim14, wherein the personal interface appears with consistent controls inboth a current virtual world and the subsequent virtual world.
 19. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method furthercomprises receiving a selection of an item, in the subsequent virtualworld, that corresponds to a controller; accessing content, from thecontroller, via a deeplink associated with the selected item; andpresenting the content, from the controller, on the personal interfacein the second runtime of the personal interface.
 20. Themachine-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the method furthercomprises generating, in the second runtime of the personal interfaceexclusive of the first runtime, 3D content by the personal interface inresponse to receiving a 3D content trigger action for an item in thesubsequent virtual world or on the personal interface; and displayingthe generated 3D content by the personal interface according to adisplay option wherein the display option specifies one of 3D contentbeing displayed A) at a specified location relative to the personalinterface, B) with the personal interface as a window into another 3Dworld which is the 3D content, or C) with the personal interface being aportal to a volume containing the 3D content.